Pratt Townhouse Renovation Lets Lucky students live in historic homes

Emily Hale (Graphic Design '12) and Brendan Farrell (Digital Animation '12) recently moved into a Pratt townhouse.

For the first time in Pratt’s history, students are now living in Pratt’s gracious, historically landmarked townhouses. Twenty-four juniors and seniors moved into four of the townhouses this fall.

The homes were completely renovated and transformed over the summer. Available exclusively to juniors and seniors, the townhouses provide each student with a private bedroom as well as the use of a common space and bathroom on each floor, a kitchen, and basement laundry room. Green features were used in construction. The redesign was done by The Hall Partnership Architects, LLP, whose principal John F. Davies (B. Arch.’75) is a Pratt alumnus.

The renovation of the townhouses marks the first time Pratt has offered apartment-style living; on-campus housing at Pratt is typically suite- or dormitory-style.

Constructed between 1901 and 1907, these historic townhouses were originally built by the Pratt family to provide housing for workers. Most recently, they served as faculty housing and office space. The first four to be renovated had been empty for years. Pratt plans to renovate the remaining 23 over the next few years to accommodate 162 students in its renovated townhouses along Willoughby Avenue, Steuben Place, and Emerson Place. 

To see more scenes from this year's freshman move-in, view the video below:

Text: Abigail Beshkin
Photo and Video: Jonathan Weitz